Setting the Bar High-Beijing's New Airport Houses Innovation and Sustainability in a Beautiful Space

Beijing Daxing International Airport. Beijing, China.

“Safe, green, smart, and humanity- centered” is how Du Xiaoming, Deputy General Manager of the airport’s planning and development department, described Beijing’s new airport which opened in September 2019. The airport is the world’s largest at 7.5 million ft^2 (98 soccer fields), and is expected to become the world’s busiest in the near future. Netherlands Airport Consultants (NACO) designed the master plan- while Zaha Hadid Architects and ADP Ingenierie designed the terminal. The design was executed by Beijing Institute of Architectural Design (BIAD). Some liken the terminal’s aerial view to a starfish- others see a phoenix spreading its wings. There are 6 “arms” radiating out from the central core. Innovative use of space means that in the world’s largest airport the furthest departure gate is only 8-10 minutes from the central core. The terminal is the first in the world to have a double-deck of arrival/departure platforms. This means all passengers have access to all amenities- whether domestic or international (amenities include 300+ shops- including manicure spas and karaoke booths). 5 “arms” house aircraft piers while the 6th houses rail connections, a hotel, and offices. The terminal’s inspiration was based on traditional Chinese architecture and organizes interconnected spaces around a central courtyard. The central atrium is supported by 8 giant c-shaped pillars- each with a 350 ft wide skylight. Natural light floods the space. The terminal also includes 5 courtyards, each in an ancient Chinese style. The infrastructure includes an intercity railway (3 underground railway stations and 5 rail lines), a high speed subway, and highways. Innovative technology includes facial recognition, radio frequency ID tags for baggage tracking, and inquiry robots. Sustainability is integrated throughout the design- including: natural light, rooftop solar farms, rainwater collection, heating and cooling systems powered by geothermal pumps, noise pollution preventatives, and waste treatment. The facade was designed by Xin Shan Curtainwall and BIAD. Beijing Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA) created art spaces throughout the terminal. Xu Bing, one of China’s prominent contemporary artists, consulted on the garden/courtyard designs. Arup consulted on fire engineering. Buro Happold Engineering was consulted to integrate engineering solutions into the design.